Nigeria’s rice farmers have warned of the collapse of the country’s once-thriving rice industry, citing cheap rice imports, insecurity and poor government support as the major causes.
Peter Dama, Chairman of the Competitive African Rice Forum Nigeria, expressed concern in a statement released on Sunday, revealing that many rice mills have shut down, leading to mass job losses. “Our mills are closed, workers have been laid off. Is this the future we want?” he asked.
Dama recalled when Nigeria’s rice production reached up to eight million metric tonnes, nearly meeting national demand. However, he said worsening insecurity, especially banditry and kidnappings, disrupted farming and reduced production significantly.
He defended the rice pyramids once displayed in Abuja and other states, saying they represented real output and not propaganda. “The paddy was produced, milled and paid for,” he said, adding that most farmers who received government support used it properly.
Dama explained that Nigeria needed only three million more metric tonnes to become fully self-sufficient in rice production. Instead, production has now dropped, while demand remains high. He blamed the influx of cheap imported rice, often untaxed and heavily subsidised abroad for creating unfair competition. Some of this rice, he claimed, enters Nigeria at prices as low as $10 per tonne.
With the 2027 elections ahead, Dama warned of growing insecurity and unrest if nothing is done. “Job losses and poverty in rural areas could lead to migration, tension in cities and distrust in government policies,” he warned.
He called on the Federal Government to act urgently by ending selective import waivers, classifying rice as a protected strategic crop and improving border control. He also urged support for local production through irrigation, access to affordable farming inputs, mechanisation and low-interest agricultural loans.
Dama recommended the creation of a national rice buffer stock to stabilise prices during harvest periods and strengthen food security across the country.